Marriage goes Maine-stream

Maine is 3rd state in 5 weeks to legalize same-sex marriage, but referendum likely; N.H. bill awaits action by governor, while Congress may intervene in D.C.

Jonathan Paul Ganucheau, 24, and Denise Buckbinder Ganucheau, 26, who are both reportedly from Dallas, participate in a protest in Washington on Tuesday, May 5 against the District of Columbia city council’s approval of legislation recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

The momentum toward marriage equality surged dramatically again this week with two more state legislatures passing bills giving same-sex marriage legal recognition, one of those governors immediately signing the bill, and the District of Columbia clearing its Marriage Recognition bill.

But the gains are almost certainly leading to a referendum in at least one of those two states — Maine — and a showdown in Congress later this year.

On Wednesday, May 6, the legislatures in Maine and New Hampshire finished their voting on same-sex marriage bills and sent them to their respective Democratic governors. In Maine, Gov. John Baldacci signed the legislation that same day.

And, in Washington, D.C., the City Council on Tuesday, May 5 took its final vote to approve the legal recognition in D.C. of marriage licenses that same-sex couples have obtained legally elsewhere.

Opponents in Maine have vowed a referendum and in D.C. have vowed a fight in Congress.

Now, in Congress and New Hampshire, some waiting begins.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has opposed same-sex marriages in the past, but has taken no position, yet, on the bill to establish equal rights to marriage for gay couples. And a spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon that the governor had still given no indication of what he plans to do when the bill reaches his desk.

But Rep. Jim Splaine, a key proponent of the bill, does not expect a veto and thinks the governor could let the measure into law without his signature.

Congress could try to overturn the D.C. council’s bid to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. But U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a statement Tuesday saying Congress "should not interfere" with the D.C. Council’s governance.

But in the past, lawmakers in Congress have frequently used their authority to overturn pro-gay measures, including times when Congress has been dominated by Democrats, as it is now.

Tears and laughter In Maine, Baldacci surprised many by stepping out early Wednesday afternoon and holding a press conference during which he signed the same-sex marriage bill lawmakers there had just approved.

Baldacci said he did not come to the decision "lightly or in haste," and noted that, while he had opposed same-sex marriage in the past, "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law." He also acknowledged the likelihood opponents will call for a referendum.

"I recognize that this may not be the final word," said Baldacci, but he added, "my responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right."

In the Maine House of Representatives, the discussion Tuesday over the bill to legalize same-sex marriage was by far one of the most emotional debates among the many that have taken place in state legislatures considering same-sex marriage bills — but not because the House was deeply divided.

Many representatives described personal transformations on the issue, explaining how they had come to see equal marriage rights as "the right thing to do."

Rep. Wendy Peih, D-Breman, was one of only 39 representatives to oppose a state Defense of Marriage Act in 1997. This week, she noted, "A lot has happened in 12 years."

"It’s a different day today," said Peih. "We’ve moved forward. Our culture has changed. And I’m very proud to be supporting this majority report" for the same-sex marriage bill.

"We look over our shoulders now and wonder how we ever discriminated against women or because of race or religion," said Eaves. "Someday soon, we will look again over our shoulders and wonder how we could have remained silent for so long" on marriage equality.

Rep. Veronica Magan, D-Stockton Springs, said that, as a born again Christian, she didn’t sign onto the original marriage bill. But after much thinking and praying, she decided she could. With her voice choked with emotion, she said, "I stand to support this bill because it’s the right thing to do."

Several older white men also stood to support the bill. One told of how he has been haunted since he was a young man because he had visited South Carolina and drank from a water fountain marked "For Whites Only."

Another, a Republican, said that President George Bush "did the right thing when he backed off" his own opposition to same-sex marriage and "didn’t buckle under to the evangelicals."

But there was laughter and opposition, too.

Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, caused the chamber to erupt in laughter when she said she had discovered an economic reason to oppose the bill: "because of the sheer number of wedding gifts she would have to buy" for her many friends. One opponent, Rep. Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, choking back tears throughout, explained her anguished decision to vote against the bill — even though her daughter is gay.

Briggs said the bill had forced her to "confess" to her daughter how she really feels about her being gay — that "the deepest part of my soul tells me this is wrong." Rep. Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, quoted President Obama’s campaign statements that he is opposed to same-sex marriage.

"He would certainly not be opposing same-sex marriage if it was a true civil rights issue," said Thibodeau. "…This isn’t about civil rights, it’s about a social agenda … that tears at the very fabric of our society."

But the House ultimately passed the bill Tuesday — as expected — on a vote of 89 to 58, after first defeating an amendment that sought to put the issue to voters. The bill then went back to the Senate on Wednesday morning and, after a brief discussion, passed on a 21-to-13 vote.

Equality Maine Executive Director Betsy Smith said she was thrilled with the votes and with Gov. Baldacci’s quick action in approving the bill.

"We’re so happy," said Smith in a phone interview — a claim backed up by the sound of people celebrating in the background. Smith credited "tens of thousands of Maine voters" with contacting their legislators and urging support for the bill.

"It’s so exciting," said Smith. "It’s just — we have people standing around right now a little bit shell-shocked by how quickly things happened."

Now the clock is ticking for opponents. They have 90 days from the day of adjournment to collect enough signatures to put the referendum on the ballot this November.

N.H. and D.C. on the brink Gay civil rights supporters in New Hampshire are optimistic Democratic Gov. John Lynch will "do the right thing," too.

The New Hampshire House voted 178 to 167 Wednesday afternoon to concur with a Senate version of its same-sex marriage bill. One representative then asked for reconsideration of that vote, but that request failed on a 161 to 185 roll call. Several members then sought to file "petitions of protest" with the speaker, who accepted them and said only that they would be "noted in the journal."

After several procedural activities, the bill will go to Lynch. The governor’s press secretary, Colin Manning, said Wednesday afternoon the governor had given no indication of his intentions.

Perhaps the roughest waters stirring this week were in Washington, D.C. — the federal district whose self-governing measures are all subject to approval by the U.S. Congress.

The D.C. Council on Tuesday voted 12-to-1 for its second and final vote on a bill that would give legal recognition in the city to marriage licenses obtained legally by same-sex couples in other states and jurisdictions.

Democratic Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the legislation Thursday, and the measure now goes through a 30-day review period by Congress.

Speaker Pelosi issued a statement immediately after Tuesday’s voting: "I have long believed that Congress should not interfere with internal decisions made by the District of Columbia’s elected representatives — just as the Congress did not intervene in the state of New York’s recognition of valid marriage contracts in other jurisdictions."

But it now seems unlikely that Congress will go along.

A large crowd of opponents staged a raucous demonstration after the vote this week, vowing to take their opposition to Congress.

"This is not over. We are going to the Hill with this issue," said opponent C.T. Riley, according to a Washington Post report.

And a local pastor told the Post that opponents are already developing a "political and legal strategy" to stop same-sex marriage.

The lone vote against the Marriage Recognition bill was stinging, too: It came from longtime gay civil rights supporter Marion Barry.

Gays helped Barry win election as mayor many years ago and, for many years, he was a strong advocate for treating gays equally.

But Barry lost the mayor’s office after being arrested and convicted of using crack. Now, he is back on the council representing only one ward of the city, and his loyalties have changed.

The Post said Barry predicted there would be a "civil war" in D.C. if the Council should take up a bill to approve issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the District.

"All hell is going to break loose," Barry told the Post. "We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this." Human Rights Campaign spokesman Brad Luna said HRC is already preparing for a fight.

"We have already begun engaging our allies on Capitol Hill and are prepared to do anything we can to protect this vote of the D.C. City Council," said Luna. "At a time when our country faces serious issues, anti-gay legislators move forward at their own risk if they try to get involved in the District’s affairs simply to score a few, cheap political points."